Railway track assembly



y 1945- G. J. H. SIEBERT 7 2,377,273

I RAILWAY TRACK ASSEMBLY Filed July 29, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 gegryaJade/:7

1945- G. J. H. SIEBERT 2,377,273

RAILWAY TRACK ASSEMBLY Filed July 29, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Vldmllllllllmh Patented May 29, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE RAILWAYTRACK ASSEMBLY I George- J. H. Siebert, Merion, Pa. Application July 29, 1942, Serial No. 452,771

11 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful im provements in railway trackassembliesand more particularly to railway frogs and switchesof the typehaving a tongue or blade which is movable between and cooperable withthe adjacent, rail elements ofa frog or switch.

One object of the invention is to provide a railway frog orswitch of thetype described embodying a novel construction and arrangement of partswhereby the thrust of the car wheels passing thereover operates to holdthe movable tongue or blade in position against an adjacent fixed railelement. I

Another object of the invention is to provide a railway frog or switchof the character set forth which is substantially free from vibrationand is so constructed and arranged that the movable tongue or blade willnot elevate or open under trafiic.

A further object of the invention is to provide a railway frog or switchof the stated type which is constructed and arranged to provide for;rela: tively easy replacement and adjustment of its movable parts as theresult of continued use, wear, and the like.

These and other objects of the invention and the various features anddetails of the construction and operation thereof are hereinafter fullyset forth and described, and shown in the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Figure 1 is a view in plan of a, railway track assembly, exemplified bya frog, embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in section taken on line 2-2,Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged view in section taken on line 33, Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detached view in perspective of one of the railengaging members carried by the movable tongue or blade.

Figure 5 is an enlarged view in section taken on line 5-5, Figure 3.

Figure 6 is an enlarged view in section taken on line 6-6, Figure l; and

Figure '7 is a view in plan of a track assembly in the form of a switchembodying the present invention.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, in Figures 1 to 6 thereis shown a railway track assembly. in the form of a frog, made inaccordance with 'the present invention. shown, such a frog may comprisea unitary base I having wing-rail members 2 and a converging terminal orend portion 4 for the running rails integral therewith. This unit isadapted to be secured to the rail bed ties by means of spikes in theconventional manner. J ournalled for horizontal pivotal movement be:tween limit defined by the wing-rail members 2 of the frog is a tongueor blade '5. As bestlshown in Figure 2 of the drawings, the tongue orblade 5 has a rounded heel end portion 6 which" seats in a recess formedin the terminal rail portion 4 by the shoulder therein which, it. willbe ob served, has a curvature corresponding to that 0 the heel end 6 ofsaidtongue5.

Depending from the underside of the heel end 6 of the tongue 5 andextending into a socket 8 formed in the rail terminal portion 4 is anannular boss or hub portion 9 whichis disposed concentrically withrespect to the radiusof curvature of the tongue heel end 6 andtheshoulder 1. Threaded or otherwise secured in the base of th socket 8 isa pivot or stud In which extends upwardly through the annularhublportlon 9 of the tongue 5 and through the latter into acoun tersinkI I. The tongue 5 is held inpositionw th respect to the pivot or stud l0by means of a nut or. the like 12, and a suitable locking device such afor example, a cotter pin l 3.

As shown in Figure 2, the depending boss or hub portion 9 of the tongue5 is'of inverted trustee conical configuration and is journalled in aCO1? respondingly tapered sleeve or bushingv I4 disposed withinthesocket 8. This sleeve or bushing .14 is springebiased upwardly by.means ofa relatively heavy coil spring I5 positioned between saidbushingand the base or bottom of the socket 8, and the cooperatingcomplementary tapered surfaces of said hub portion 9 and bush ing [4,together with the upward biasof the spring [4 against holding action ofthe studio and nut. l2, operate to maintain a tight-snug fit between thebushing l4 and hub 9 at all times with the result that vibration of theheelend .6 of the tongue 5 and its pivotal mountingunder trafiicconditions, is substantially eliminated. Too, it will be observed thatsome clearance, is provided between the hub 9 and the stud H), whichpasses therethrough, with the result that the latter is not subjected toshear.

As shown in Figure 1, the tongue 5 extends fro its heel portion 6longitudinally between the wingrail 2 and diminishes gradually along itslength terminating in a point at the extremity of its free or toe endportion I v6. As previously stated, pivotal movement of th tongue 5 islimited by the spacing of the wing-rail members 2, the head p rtions I!of which are arranged toengage-or bear against the oppositely disposedgauge sides of said tongue as best shown in Figure 3 of the drawings.

For the purpose of preventing vertical movement or elevation andvibration of the toe or free end portion [B of the tongue 5 undertraffic when in either of its terminal positions against one or theother of the wing-rail members 2, there is secured to opposite sides ofthe tongue 5, below the rail bearing gauge sides thereof andapproximately midway therealong, laterally projecting blocks or likemembers [8 (see Figure 4) which are arranged so that, in each terminalposition of the tongue 5, the block l8 adjacent the wingrail memberagainst which the tongue bears, engages within a recess or the like l9formed in such wing-rail member below the head I! thereof in the mannershown in the drawings.

Referring particularly to Figures 3 and 5 of the drawings, it will beobserved that the top wall surface 20 of the wing-rail member recessesl9 and the upper surface 2| Of the blocks or members 18 decline bothlaterally outward from the tongue (Figure 3) and longitudinally of thetonguein a direction away from the pivotal mounting, or toward the freeend thereof, (Figure 5). By reason of this construction of the blocks ormembers [8, it will be noted that when the tongue 5 is moved to one ofits terminal positions against one of the wing-rail members 2, theadjacent block I8 engages within the recess of such rail with awedge-like action which, under the thrust of traflic, operates tomaintain and hold the tongue in place abutting the wingrail member andalso prevents the tongue from elevating or vibrating.

Actuation of the tongue 5 between its two limit positions against thewing-rail members 2 may be effected by means of a throw rod 22 whichextends through a slot or aperture 23 in the outer wall of the recess IQof one of the wing-rail members 2 and has its end connected to the outerface of the adjacent wedge block l8 carried by the tongue 5 as shown inFigure 3 of the drawings. In order to eliminate any problem of right orleft hand frogs a similar slot or aperture 24 may be provided in theouter wall of the recess l9 of the opposite wing-rail member 2 therebypermitting the frog to be operated from either side thereof.

It will be obvious, of course, that in lieu of providing the recesses ISin the rail members, as described, said recesses, together with theangularly disposed top surface, may be provided in stop members such asblocks which may be provided independently of or in addition to th railmembers, the essential requirement being that the angularly disposedsurfaces on the tongue 5 cooperatively engage said recess surfaces inthe terminal positions of the tongue thereby to prevent elevation andvibration of the tongue in its terminal positions.

Referring now to Figure 7 of the drawings, the invention is there shownas embodied in a railway track switch assembly of the type more commonlyemployed in street railways, although used to some extent by the regularor so-called steam railroads. As in the case of the frog previouslydescribed, the switch assembly shown in Figure 7 comprises a unitarybase la having integral therewith a running rail 25, guard rail 26a andthe terminal or end portion la of the running rail 26 and guard rail 25aof the straight and turn-out branches respectively of the switch.

A tongue or blade 5a is journalle'd in theterminal rail portion 4a forpivotal movement between limits defined by the rail member 25 and uardrail member 26a. The construction of the blade 5a and its mounting maybe substantially the same as that shown and described above inconnection with the railway frog assembly and hence it is not necessaryagain to describe said blade and its pivotal mounting.

Secured to the side of the blade 5a, at the side thereof that bearsagainst the running rail 25, is a block I8a arranged (as in the case ofthe blocks l8 in the frog) so that in the terminal position of the blade5a against the running rail 25, the said block l8a engages within arecess I911 formed in said rail 25 below the head thereof. Theconstruction and arrangement of the block [8a and its recess I9a issubstantially the same as described in connection with the frog assemblyand operates with a similar wedge-like action to maintain and hold theblade 50 in place abutting or bearing against the running rail 25, and

also to prevent said blade from elevating or vibrating. Actuation of theblade 5a may be accom-' plished by a throw rod or the like 22a whichextends through a slot or opening 23a in the outer wall of the railrecess l9a.

Of course, instead of providing the blocks or members l8 and la in theform of independent elements which are attached to the tongues or blades5 and 5a, it will be obvious that these blocks may be formed integralwith the tongues or blades, that is-the said tongues or blades 5 and 5amay be provided with portions integral therewith having laterallysloping surfaces forming the functional counterpart of the block uppersurfaces and arranged for engagement with correspondingly formedsurfaces on the adjacent rail element. I prefer, however, to employseparate blocks l8 and Ma and to secure them in place on the tongues 5and So by means of bolts or the like (not shown) which may be passedthrough elongated slot-like openings 21 and 21a in said blocks therebypermitting of adjustment of the block 18 and l8a lengthwise of thetongue or blade and with respect to the angularly disposed top wallsurface of the recesses l9 and Illa in the rail elements so as to permitof regulation of the extent or degree of the wedging action that takesplace between the cooperating upper surfaces of the blocks and the topwalls of such recesses.

From the foregoing, it will be observed that the present inventionprovides an improved railway frog of the movable tongue type whichprovides a continuous running surface for the wheels of railway rollingstock, and which embodies novel features of construction and arrangementwhereby the movable tongue is firmly held in bearing against a terminalposition member substantially free from any tendency to elevate orvibrate under traflic. The novel construction and arrangement of thepresent invention also permits of the easy replacement and adjustment ofthe movable parts of the device as may be required from time to time asthe result of continued use or wear.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed, it is not intended that the invention be limited to suchdisclosure but that changes and modifications may be made andincorporated within the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A railway track assembly comprising a pair of relatively spacedmembers, a tongue pivotally mounted between said members for selectivemovement between terminal positions bearing against one or the other ofthe members, means providing an angularly disposed surface on at leastone of said members, and means providing a corresponding singularlydisposed surface at the adjacent side of the tongue, said angularsurfaces on the member and tongue declining both laterally outward andlongitud-inallytoward' the free endof said tongue and being constructedand arranged so that when the tongue is in its terminal position bearingagainst said one member the angular surface of the latter is cooperartively' engaged by the angular surface of the tongue thereby holdingsaid tongue in such terminal position against elevation and vibration.

2. A railway track assembly in the form of a frog comprising a pair ofrelatively spaced mem hers, a tongue pivotally mounted betweens'aidmembers for selective movement between terminal positions bearingagainst one or the other of the members, means providing an angularlydisposed surface on each of said members, and

means providing corresponding angularly di posed surfaces at oppositesides of the tongue, said angular surfaces on the members and tonguedeclining both laterally outward and longitudinal. 1y toward the freeend of said tongue and bein constructed and arranged so that when thetongue is in either of said terminal positions the angular surfaces ofthe wing -rail against which said tongue bears is cooperatively engagedby the angular surface on the adjacent side of the tongue therebyholding said tongue in such terminal position against elevation andvibration.

3. A railway track assembly comprising a pair of relatively spaced railelements, means providing a socket between said rail elements adjacentone end thereof, a tongue having a depending hub portion of invertedfrustro-conical shape pivotallymountedin said socket for selectivemovement between terminal positions bearing against one or the other ofthe rail elements, a stud securing the hub portion of said tongue in thesocket, a bushing in said socket having its interior shape to correspondto the shape of said hub portion and in which the hub portion of thetongue is journalled, spring means upwardly biasing said bushing againstthe retaining action of said stud to maintain the pivotal mounting ofsaid tongue substantially free from vibration, and complementaryangularly disposed surface portions on the tongue and rail elementsconstructed and arranged for cooperative engagement when said tongue isin at least one of said terminal positions thereby holding the tongue insuch terminal position against elevation and vibration.

4. A railway track assembly comprising a pair movement between terminalpositions bearing against one or the other of the rail elements, a studsecuring the hub portion of said tongue in the socket, a bushing in saidsocket having its in terior shape to correspond to the shape of said hubportion and in which the hub portion of the tongue is journalled, springmeans upwardly biasing said bushing against the retaining action of saidstud to maintain the pivotal mounting of said tongue substantially freefrom vibration, means providing an angularly disposed surface on atleast one of said rail elements, and means providing a correspondingangularly disposed surface at the adjacent side of the tongue, saidangular surfaces on the rail element and tongue declining both laterallyoutward and longitudinally toward the free end of said tongueand beingconstructed and arranged so that when. the tongue is in the terminalposition against said one rail element'the angular surface of the latteris cooperatively engaged by the angular surface on the adjacent side ofthe tongue therebyhold ing said tongue in such terminal position againstelevation and vibration.

5. A railway track assembly in the form of a frog comprising a pair ofrelatively spaced wing, rails, each having an elongated recess thereinprovided with an angularly disposed top wall surface, means providing asocket of'inverted frustros-oonical shape betwen saidwing-railsadjace'nt one end thereof, atongue having a' cor resprn-idinghshaped depending hub portion pivotally mounted in said socket forselective move:- ment between terminal positions bearing against one orthe other of the wing-rails, astud securing the hub portion of saidtongue in the Socket, a bushing in said socket in which the hub portionofthe tongue is journalled, spring meansum wardly biasing saidbushing'against the, retains ing action of said stud to maintain thepivotal mounting of said tongue substantially freefrom vibration, andmeans providing projecting cor.- responding angularly disposed surfacesat DEED,- site sides of the tongue, said angular surfaces on thewingerails and tongue declining both latterally outward andlongitudinally toward the free end of said tongue and being constructedand arranged so that when the tongue is in either of said terminalpositions the angular-surface of the wing-rail against which said tonguebears is cooperatively engaged by the angular: sur.- face on theadjacent side of the tongue thereby holding said tongue in such terminalposition against elevation and vibration.

6. A railway switch assembly comprising relatively spaced running andguard rail elements, a tongue pivotally mounted between said railelements for selective movement between terminal positions bearingagainst one or the other of said running and guard rail elements, meansproviding an angularly disposed surface on the running rail element, andmeans providing a corresponding angular surface on the side of thetongue adjacent said running rail element, said angular surfaces on therunning rail and tongue declining both laterally and longitudinallytoward the free end of the tongue and being constructed and arranged sothat when the tongue is in its terminal position bearing against therunning rail the angular surface of the latter is cooperatively engagedby the angular surface of the tongue thereby holding said tongue in suchterminal position against elevation and'vibration.

7. A railway track assembly comprising a plurality of running railelements of which one element terminates short of a second and a tongueat the terminal end of the said one rail and adjustable laterallybetween terminal positions in one of which the said tongue is operativeto establish a juncture between said elements, the said second railelement having an extension providing a stop for the tongue in saidoperative position, and interlocking means on said tongue and extensionfor holding the tongue when in the operative position against elevationand vibration, said means comprising interengaging surfaces of which atleast one is inclined to the plane of movement of the tongue so as toafford a wedging action between said tongue and ex tension.

8.": A railway track assembly comprising a pluraiity'of running" railelements of which one element terminates short of a second and a tongueat the terminal end of the said one rail and adjustable laterallybetween terminal positions in one of which the said tongue is operativeto establish a juncture between said elements, the said second railelement comprising an extension forming a stop for the tongue in saidoperative position and having an undercut recess, and a projection onthe side of said tongue arranged when the tongue is in theoperativeposition to occupy said recess, said tongue an'd'recess havinginterengaging surfaces of which at least one is' inclined to the planeof movement of the tongue'so as to afford a wedging action to retain thetongue when in the operative'position against both elevation andvibration. Y

9. A railway track assembly comprising a pair of "running rails at eachend converging towards an intersection and a tongue at the terminal endsof one pair of rails and adjustable laterally between terminal positionswherein the said tongue is operative to establish a juncture betweenthecorresponding rails of said pairs respectively, one pair of saidrails being extended and providing a stop for the tongue in therespective terminal positions, and interlocking means on said tongue andsaid extensions for holding the tongue when in the said terminalpositions against both elevation and vibration, each of said meanscomprising interengaging surfaces of which at least one isiinclined tothe plane of movement of the tongue so as to afford a wedging actionbetween said tongue and said extensions.

10. A railway track assembly comprising a running rail, a secondrunning" rail converging toward the flrst and a tongue at the terminal:end of said second rail and; adjustable laterally between ,terminalpositions in one of which the said tongue is operative'to establish ajuncture between said rails, said first rail providing a stop for thetongue in the said operative position, and'interlocking means on saidtongue and first rail for holding the tongue when in the operativeposition against both elevation and vibration, said means comprisinginterengaging surfaces of which at least one is .inclined to the planeof movement of the tongue so as to aiIord a wedging action between saidtongue and first rail.

11. A railway track assembly comprising a plurality of running railelements of which one element terminates short of a second and a tongueat the terminal end of the said one rail and adjustable laterallybetween terminal positions in one of which the said tongue is operativeto establish a juncture between said elements, the said second railelement comprising an extension forming a stop for the tongue in saidoperative position and having an undercut recess in the side thereof, aprojection on the side of said tongue adapted when the tongue is movedinto the operative position to enter said recess, the said top surfacesof said recess and tongue being formed for wedging engagement of thetongue in the recess when the tongue occupies said operative positionthereby to retain the tongue in such position against both elevation andvibration.

GEORGE J. H. SIE'BERT.

